The National Book Award Nominees

For Young People's Literature. Because who cares about the grown up books? Well, some people. I just don't happen to be one of them. Here is a where you can find the complete list (grown up books and all). For purposes of the National Book Award "Young People's Literature" has a broad range, as you can see from the list of nominees.

And the nominees are:
Chime by Franny Billingsley (my review)
Flesh and Blood So Cheap by Albert Marrin
Inside Out and Back Again by Thannha Lai (my review)
My Name Is Not Easy by Debby Dahl Edwardson
Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt (my review)
Shine by Lauren Myracle

Let's break this down:
AGE: 3 2 YA, 3 MG
GENRE: 1 Fantasy; 1 Non Fiction, ~~1 Contemporary~~, 3 Historical Fiction

ETA: At the request of the NBF Lauren Myracle has withdrawn Shine. You can read more about that here.

The mock Newbery blog Heavy Medal has discussed 4 of these books as possible Newbery contenders.

I'm interested to see how this will play out. I have read 3 of the books and have Flesh and Blood So Cheap in my TBR pile right now. I'm working up the enthusiasm to read it. The Triangle Shirtwaist Fire is not something I really want to read more about but I shall. My Name is Not Easy isn't released until October 18 which might explain why I hadn't even heard of it prior to the nominees being released today. Now that it is on my radar I'm intrigued. I haven't read Shine because my library doesn't have copies of it yet. (I'm not holding my breath that will happen anytime soon. They are not so up to date on ordering things for the YA collection.)

Basically my main thought is: Wow, I am so glad not to be part of the panel that has to decide this. Two of my favorite reads of the year are on this list. I have great hopes that one (Chime) will win the Printz and that the other (Okay for Now) will win the Newbery. To have to choose between them?

I don't think I can.

Comments

Betsy said…

I'm going to champion Inside Out and Back Again ... again... :-). Not sure it will stand up to those other two you're so torn between, but gosh darn it... I like it. Shouldn't that be enough for any ol' committee? :-)

October 14, 2011 at 7:42 AM

Brandy said…

I liked Inside Out and Back Again. I really really did. I don't think it is as strong as a contender as Chime and Okay for Now though.

October 14, 2011 at 9:55 AM

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